Cane famers warns Kenya Sugar Board against sideling their federation

Cane famers association has cautioned the Kenya Sugar Board against sidelining their cane farmer’s federation.

The Butali sugarcane out growers association chairman William Kopi while issuing his proposals in a public participation on the sugar development fund held at Mukhonje friends’ church grounds in Butali Chegulo ward in Malava constituency warned the Kenya sugar board of sidelining the Kenya national federation of sugarcane farmers in its operations.

“The federation is the apex of cane farming representation and it has come to our attention that it is not featuring anywhere in this sugar development fund document being discussed in many parts of the country.” He said.

Kopi said it will be business unusual if the farmers are not well represented in the Kenya sugar board through their federation as it will mean the board is not for the cane farmers.

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“Kenya sugar board should not take it as easy as it is as we have fought for the federation for many years and we have presented our membership and we hear there are other farmers’ organizations recognized by the board, let them come clean and reveal which ones are this and how many members are registered with them,” he added.

The chairman took issue with the board for downplaying the federation ad yet was the heart of the farmers’ country wide.

He called on the board through their representative David Ombalo Ministry of Agriculture (MoALD) and Andrew Osodo (KSB) to capture their contributions and be amended into the final document.

“We as farmers we have presented our views on the proposals and have rectified where necessary of which if followed the board will be very beneficial to the farmers, as we have fought to have cane farmers to be removed from AFA to Kenya sugar board that only deals with cane farmers as tea and coffee farmers are also advocating for their own independent organizations,” he noted

Over 100 farmers attended the meeting which ended at 14:30pm.

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The Kenya sugar board is mandated to regulate, develop and promote the sugar industry.

The public participation is aimed at collecting farmers’ views on how well the sugar development levy will work for the farmers through reviewing of the SDF policy, discuss ISO agreement and share feedback that will shape the future of sugar the country.

BY WAKHUNGU ANDANJE

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